The front garden

Not been at the plot in the last few days, but will go for a while tomorrow. However I have been working in the front garden to get it ready for next season, the plan is to create 3 small vegetable beds to compliment the allotment. We'll use the plot for the big crops but do some smaller ones and ones that require a little more care here.  However, it has been harder work than I would have hoped. Moving gravel first and then under that there was about an inch of soil and then an old crazy paving type of path.... 

Almost there with the clearing...

Start of the holidays

Today was the second day of the holidays and I got down to the plot for a couple of hours.  This holiday I am doing a lot of work both at the allotment and also at home in the front garden.  We are digging up a lot of the bed at the front and will use some of the slabs and stone at the plot.

Today though I did the following:

Tidied up the broad beans! they are finished now.  They did ok but not as well as I had hoped.

Picked some runner beans.  Only have 3 plants this year, also not a good year for them.

Dug up some more new potatoes.  Have a few plants left then a bit of a wait for the main crop. Done well this year, will plant more new ones next year...

Picked a tub full of black currants. They've done ok although been a little taken over by the weeds.  Next year am going to work on the fruit bed.

Picked a few more shallots, they have been excellent this year. Might do more next year

One large courgette from the plot as well.

So a good day. I also started work on the path by the side of the plot to make sure that it is getting neater.  Using some bricks etc as well.  We're getting there this year and the plot is looking better. Not perfect but definitely an improvement on last year.

First courgette

Today picked the first courgette from the allotment, we have had a few from our plants at home...

Didn't do much down at the plot today - took a load of bricks down for a new path and took a load of rubbish to the tip. That's about it really. The black currants are about ready, so looking forward to getting those later this week.

Strawberry and Rhubarb jam

My first jam made today... Strawberry and Rhubarb.

1kg rhubarb

1kg strawberries

1.5kg sugar 

1 juice of lemon

Cooked the rhubarb in some water first, cut up in cm chunks. After about 15 mins added strawberries and cooked again for 10-15 mins. When fruit all soft added sugar and lemon juice and simmered until hit setting point.

Will taste in morning!

Planting out some Rhubarb

It was a wet day today and I tried to dodge the showers, unsuccessfully as it turns out.  I had hoped to get a few jobs done but as it was I gave up... However I did plant out 4 of my Rhubarb plants that I have grown from seed, I still have a few more plants to put out as well.

My last leeks are also ready to go,  to be planted where I dug up the last of my new potatoes. They have done well this year.  

A few images though just to show what it is like.

Another quick Tuesday eve

Seems to be that I only get down to the plot on Tuesdays at the moment!  Popped down today, did a little weeding around the leeks and courgettes.  Came home with the last of the strawberries, some potatoes, some shallots and some broad beans. Not bad...

A quick Tuesday eve

Picked the rest of the Garlic today, so that bed is now almost clear ready to move the strawberries later on.  The garlic looks and smells lovely and I think that for next year I will plant some more.

Also picked another 2lb of strawberries, almost finished now but still some left. Beans still not good, not sure what has gone wrong with them this year.  Might try and get some more going but it is a little late.

And just had a small glass of Rhubarb Vodka!